7. A book set in a country that fascinates you

[Chrissy]

Would P.S. I Love You work for Ireland? I have seen the movie, and remember parts of it being in Ireland, but not the whole thing.

[Jess]

Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

I am currently reading and enjoying Hotel Iris. It's subject matter is a bit disturbing but it's handled in such a matter of fact way that it's strangely intriguing. It's nice and short too.

[Lindi]

Chrissy wrote: "Would P.S. I Love You work for Ireland? I have seen the movie, and remember parts of it being in Ireland, but not the whole thing."

I read it a long time ago, but I'm pretty sure unlike the movie, the entire book is set in Ireland :)

[Shelly]

I am fascinated by Iceland and/or Micronesia. Any suggestions???

[Lilia]

Can you do a book from a country you’ve already been to? Like, I absolutely love Italy and Greece, and I went to those countries this summer and I know there are tons of books out there that take place in those countries that I would like to read

[Chinook]

I think that works fine. Fascinated definitely leaves it open for somewhere you want to go or somewhere you’ve been that you want to learn more about.

[Tricia]

Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

I enjoyed The Devotion of Suspect X for a prompt 2 years ago. I bought it on a trip to Japan.

Like others I also liked The Street of a Thousand Blossoms

[Јована]

Unauthorized Cinnamon wrote: "Am I being a Horrible American if I'm most fascinated by my own U.S.A.? I'm thinking about how much I enjoyed American Gods and American Elsewhere and wondering what..."

American Assassin

[Јована]

Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

Kokoro
Ugetsu Monogatari ; Harusame Monogatari
Snow Country
I Am a Cat
Wabi-Sabi <- although this writer isn't Japanese

and literally anything written by Haruki Murakami

[Kim]

Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

i got excited and posted the book without replying to the OP
so here it is again
Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales
amazing Japanese short stories - and I don't even like short stories usually

[Shelly]

Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

One I have read and loved: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet .
One that I want to read: Pachinko

[Rachael]

Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

Would manga count/would you read manga? Not that I have any suggestions, but it's definitely a place to start!

[Sami]

Any suggestions for books set in Russia?

[BJ]

How about A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. We read this last fall for a book club read and I really enjoyed it. One of my favorite books of last year.

[Kirsty]

Shelly wrote: "I am fascinated by Iceland and/or Micronesia. Any suggestions???"

Burial Rites is set in Iceland and it is fantastic. I can't help you with Micronesia though :-)

[Shelly]

Kirsty wrote: "Shelly wrote: "I am fascinated by Iceland and/or Micronesia. Any suggestions???"

Burial Rites is set in Iceland and it is fantastic. I can't help you with Micronesia though :-)"

Thanks, Kristy. I have plugged Burial Rites in for this prompt. What are you reading for this one?

[Emanuel]

I'll readA Fita Vermelha or O Nascimento de Vénus.

[Maryam]

I like to read something set in Italy but don't know yet so I might end up reading OriginOrigin which is set in Spain as my second choice as I already have it on my tbr list of 2018.

[Sarah]

Any ideas for Italy? I like mostly thriller, crime, YA, fantasy, suspense

[Shelly]

Sarah wrote: "Any ideas for Italy? I like mostly thriller, crime, YA, fantasy, suspense"

Here are some of my favorites.
Pope Joan
Summer's Lease: Tie In Edition
Ratking
The Name of the Rose
The Robe

[Rachael]

Sarah wrote: "Any ideas for Italy? I like mostly thriller, crime, YA, fantasy, suspense"

Recently I read Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen. Half is narrated by a present day American woman (she ends up in Italy), the other half is narrated by an Italian Jewish boy during the 1940s

[Tori]

Shelly wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

One I have read and loved: [b..."

Murakami's work is set in Japan so I'm going to choose one of his! I've read 1Q84 and it's Japan but with a fantasy twist, so I'm intrigued to read some of his other works :)

[Claire]

Sarah wrote: "Any ideas for Italy? I like mostly thriller, crime, YA, fantasy, suspense"

Michael Dibdin wrote a series of crime novels set in Italy, featuring the detective Aurelio Zen. I read them back in the nineties and really enjoyed them.

[Caitlin]

Stefanie wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

I'm eyeing Japan as well and ..."

Yes! The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami is what I decided on for this one.

[Kirsty]

Shelly wrote: "Kirsty wrote: "Shelly wrote: "I am fascinated by Iceland and/or Micronesia. Any suggestions???"

Burial Rites is set in Iceland and it is fantastic. I can't help you with Micronesia..."

You will love it :-) I think I am going to read Nervous Conditions, which is set in Zimbabwe.

[Sarah]

For Italy there are the Elena Ferrante books.

For Japan The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, particularly if you like historical fiction.

[Diane]

Sami wrote: "Any suggestions for books set in Russia?"

I recommend The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander.

[Allie]

Fannie wrote: "I'd like some suggestion for something scottish. This is a place that I would love to visit one day.

I already read Outlander."

I was in Scotland this summer (can't BELIEVE I've not read Outlander yet! It's definitely on the list now!) and for some reason every time I was walking by shop The Lewis Trilogy (The Black House, The Lewis Man, The Chess Men) by Peter May always jumped out at me.

I keep kicking myself for not buying it, but now this is my reason to at least read it!

[Kirsty]

Sami wrote: "Any suggestions for books set in Russia?"

A Gentleman in Moscow is brilliant, I highly recommend it. Or if you like classics Anna Karenin and Crime and Punishment are favourites of mine.

[Lisa]

Wendy wrote: "The country I immediately thought of was Iceland!

Jar City
Silence of the Grave
Burial Rites
Independent People
[book:The Saga of the Volsun..."

Same! Thanks for the suggestions :) I'm hoping to make it to Iceland next year.

[Lisa]

Lindi wrote: "Iceland has always fascinated me, it seems so mysterious!

Going with Burial Rites. It's been on my radar for the last couple years."

I think I'm going to go with this as well!

[Crumb]

Stefanie wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

I'm eyeing Japan as well and ..."

Stephanie.. have you ever considered doing Shanghai Girls by Lisa See? Her books are supposed to be excellent!

[Floor]

Jackie wrote: "I am also a person who struggles to identify a country that "fascinates" me. But I do love to travel, so I might pick a country that I've never been to/don't know much about and do a little armchai..."

I loved Picnic at Hanging Rock! Don't know what I'm reading for this prompt, but I'm sure I'll find something :)

[Tytti]

Crumb wrote: "Stephanie.. have you ever considered doing Shanghai Girls by Lisa See? Her books are supposed to be excellent!"

But I would assume most of her books are set in China, like that one in Shanghai.

[Lisa]

Boris Akunin does mysteries set in Russia

[Kait]

I'm really excited for this one! I'd like to read something set in Puerto Rico since I was born there, and I've always been very interested in it. I looking at maybe The House on the Lagoon, Conquistadora, or The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico. Any ideas on which one I should read? Or suggestions for other good books set in Puerto Rico?

[Laura • lauralovestoread]

The Miniaturist AMSTERDAM
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane CHINA
White Teeth LONDON
The Little Paris Bookshop PARIS, FRANCE

[SadieReadsAgain]

To be honest, I could pick any country in the world, because I love to read about new places. So I just looked at my TBR shelves and went for Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books. I read Things I've Been Silent About: Memories and thought it was really interesting.

[Kim]

The Little Paris Bookshop. I'm planning a trip to Paris for my 50th birthday

[Anabell]

You could always check out the prompt: 20. a local author.
If you find a country that interest you there could be suggestions there.

[Priya]

Hey, you could read Haruki Murakami's works.

[Megan]

For people looking for something in Scotland, other than Outlander, One City is short stories set in Edinburgh. It is a very fast read.
If anyone is interested in Central America, I recently read and loved Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy.

[Juliet]

Wendy wrote: "The country I immediately thought of was Iceland!

Iceland was my initial thought as well!! Thanks for sharing the list, I will be researching those titles!

[Juliet]

Right now Im going with Zac and Mia because Australia has always been on the top of my bucket list. I am also researching books that take place in Iceland because we are headed there in July.

[Teresa]

The Paris Wife

[Laura]

India is my country of choice, and I am going with The White Tiger

If anyone else is picking INDIA here are some suggestions:

The God of Small Things (This could also work for the twins prompt)
A Son of the Circus (Again this could fit the twins prompt)
Nine Lives
A Fine Balance
What the Body Remembers

Bonus: I live in South Korea as an expat so I had to give at least a few KOREA suggestions too:

The Vegetarian
Please Look After Mom

[Lyndsay]

I'm going to read The Dry for this prompt. I've always wanted to go to Australia.

[Alice]

Wendy wrote: "The country I immediately thought of was Iceland!

Jar City
Silence of the Grave
Burial Rites
Independent People
[book:The Saga of the Volsun..."

Iceland is the country that sprung to mind for me too, so I'll check out your suggestions :)

[Isha]

I'm super fascinated by Greece and love when books are set there. A good YA book set in Greece is Oh. My. Gods..

For those who like books set in the Middle East, I loved The Wrath and the Dawn. :)

[Ciara]

Does anyone have any suggestions for Norway?